Netflix Eyes Champions League Rights as UEFA Seeks Platform Revolution
Geneva, Switzerland – October 11, 2025 - UEFA is poised to dramatically reshape the landscape of Champions League broadcasting, launching a tender process on October 13th aimed at attracting major global platforms - including Netflix – to compete for television rights starting in the 2027-2028 season. The move signals a significant shift away from traditional broadcasters and towards tech giants, with UEFA hoping to generate over €5 billion in revenue between 2027 and 2030.
The European football governing body is actively courting “new broadcasters” like Netflix, Amazon, and Apple TV+ to bid on rights packages, specifically targeting a deal that would see at least one Champions League match streamed weekly worldwide. This strategy reflects a broader ambition to expand the reach of UEFA’s men’s interclub competitions and establish “a new reference for the dissemination of football among supporters around the world,” according to Guy-Laurent Epstein, UC3 General Codirector, in a statement released to media.
UEFA’s hope is that increased competition amongst these platforms will drive up the value of the broadcasting rights.While other GAFAs (Google, Apple, Facebook/Meta, Amazon) have already made considerable investments in sports broadcasting, Netflix has remained relatively quiet on the sports rights front – a factor that makes it an attractive potential partner for UEFA.
“This new strategy reflects our ambition to carry out the next phase of growth of UEFA male interclub competitions,” epstein stated.
The potential arrival of Netflix, which has demonstrated an appetite for live event programming with ventures like a recent amateur MMA competition featuring prominent fighters, aligns with its strategy of offering globally accessible content. However, UEFA is not anticipating a full-scale takeover of champions League broadcasting by Netflix, but rather a targeted acquisition of specific match rights.
Beyond Netflix, platforms like DAZN, Apple TV+, Paramount+, and Canal+ are also expected to participate in the bidding process. UEFA is also open to offering longer-term rights deals to provide greater security for potential broadcasters.
The outcome of the tender will not only impact UEFA’s revenue but also determine how fans around the world access the prestigious Champions League competition in the years to come. The sale of rights for matches outside of the globally-focused package will also be closely watched, as UEFA seeks to maximize revenue across national and European markets.
